Waxahachie Ford: March 2020

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Shelby GT350 Mustang

In this “over the top” crazy horsepower climate we live in with the 700 plus ponies under those other muscle car's hoods, why would 526 horses raise even an eyebrow? The Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 is proudly on display with the friendly folks at Waxahachie Ford located at 2401 N. Interstate 35-E in Waxahachie, Texas or by calling the dealership at 972.825.4500 and so ready to meet your expectations.

This Shelby GT350 is the “wild child” of Ford's line up of heart-pounding performance vehicles. This two-setter is still a loud, brash, unrefined, asphalt eating fun machine. The GT350 just loves to rip around corners that will reshape your stomach and turns fuel into pure adrenaline.

Your neighbors will know that you have arrived home with the twin pipes singing loud. That is thanks to what lives under the GT's muscular hood which is a 5.2-liter DOHC 32 valve V8 that punches out 536 anxious horses and 429 lb-ft of asphalt grabbing torque. Of course, the only transmission is a short shifter 6-speed stick that is a joy to throw and slides easily from gear to gear. The steering is nice and heavy and feeling under control to assist the driver in knowing where the nose is pointed and what was happening with the front tires with zero play in the steering wheel. The Shelby GT350 also has sticky grip with its new Michelin tires as they grab into the pavement in straight away or corner bending.

The driver feels he or she is in total command of this beast. Another big improvement in the GT350 performance to the chassis is the aerodynamics with front and rear changes that help settle the car. In front the upper grille is more closed off as Ford discovered that too much air was getting through and really not needed that much for cooling. That surplus air was getting trapped causing some unnecessary lift.

In back, there is a new spoiler wing with two big vents that allow the maximum amount of air to flow through that reduces drag and creating the right amount of down force. Also new is the recalibration of the electronic programming of the Bembo brake system to improve the way the GT350 takes on braking into corners. Other improvements were the adjustment of the MagneRide dampers that changes the stiffness of the shocks, wheel-spin and so on.

But, what Ford didn’t touch was how much fun the Shelby GT350 is to drive and especially to be seen in. This “Pony car” on steroids is still the loud, brash, unrefined and thrash-happy muscle maniac. All you have to do is to take a test drive and you will sense that feeling big time. No better time than now to check out the Mustang Shelby GT350 as Spring Fever is here. Don't dream it. Drive it.